Pandas & Mysterious Tibet

Upon your arrival in Chengdu, our guide will be waiting for you outside the baggage claim area of the airport. Then our guide and driver will escort you to the well selected hotel and help you complete the check-in procedure. The rest of the day is arranged by yourself. You can have a good rest to store energy for the coming private China panda tour, or get around exploring the city on your own.

Meals: No meals, advice freely available

Day 2 Chengdu

Our clients visting the Giant Buddha in Leshan

A whole interesting day begins with Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. We will set off in the early morning so that you can catch the panda's breakfast time, their most active moment. Pandas have warm enclosures and they are distributed in different houses according to their age groups. There are also free-cage pandas wandering in outdoor grounds. Sleeping and eating are their main activities. They eat a lot every day, about 88 pounds (40 kilograms) of bamboo shoots and leaves. You will be amused by their funny behaviors. Just record the scenes with your camera. If visiting the base in summer, you can go to the nursery house, where the newly born cubs are living. You will see how adorable and cute this creature is, tiny, pinky and pure. Apart from this, the panda kitchen is also worth a visit. There you can learn about panda's staple food, snacks after meal and desserts. In Giant Panda Museum, you will get clear about their origin and living habits as well as the endangered situation they face. After a short rest, we will go on our trip to the famous Broad and Narrow Alleys. It is modern commercial streets developed from old local dwellings. In the alleys, you can find many restaurants, craft shops, tea houses, bars, painting clubs on both sides. You'll be given some time to do a simple shopping there. Then we will head to Jinsha Site Museum, where you can witness the glorious history and civilization of ancient Chengdu. With the discovery of the relic site, the history can be traced back to 3,000 years ago. The most notable exhibits are ivory, golden and jade wares. Then our guide will take you back to the hotel.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 3 Chengdu - Leshan - Chengdu

Two pandas having breakfast together

In the morning, we will drive you to Leshan City, where the famous Giant Buddha is located. With the total height of 233 feet (71 meters), it is the largest surviving Maitreya Buddha carving in the world. First carved in 713 AD and finished in 803AD, it took 90 years to complete the work. The Buddha is carved on a large steep cliff, facing the intersection of Minjiang River, Qingyi River and Dadu River. The best way to enjoy the majesty of the Buddha is to take a boat in the river at a low angle view. Through the plank road up the mountain, you will see more tiny carvings, delicate and vivid. After several hours' sightseeing, our guide and driver will transfer you back to Chengdu.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 4 Chengdu - Lhasa

Before you take a flight to Lhasa, you can seize the chance to continue your own exploration in the morning. Our guide will provide you some advice on nearby sites and lunch places. In the afternoon, the guide will see you off at the airport. When you arrive in Lhasa, our local guide will pick up you at the airport and then accompany you to the hotel booked by us. Lhasa is a city with a high altitude of 11,975 feet (3,650 meters), so it may take some time to acclimatize yourself to the plateau climate. Take a sleep in the hotel, or just walk around to get familiar with the surroundings.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 5 Lhasa

Potala Palace, Lhasa

Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is a city of mystery and religion. We will take a whole day to explore it. Our private trip starts with the visit in Tibet Museum, the best place to learn about the history and culture of Tibet. The museum has distinct feature of Tibetan architectural style, and inside displays the traditional and religious exhibitions.

Follow the guide to continue the visit to one of the three grand temples of Lhasa, Sera Monastery. There you may view the interesting sutra debating performed by the monks of the temple. Afterwards, you will drop by Norbulingka Park, also called the Summer Palace of Lhasa, where the Dalai Lamas used to live. It is a grand and delicate garden, with many rare plant species introduced. The whole design is smart and unique; you will sense its glamour wandering inside.

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

Day 6 Lhasa

Today, our guide will take you to appreciate the highlights of Lhasa travel, the Potala Palace. Reputed as the Pearl on the World's Roof, it is the symbol of Tibet. As the religious center, it is the holiest place for Tibetan people, as well as the highest palace in the world. With a history of over 1,300 years, it retains the most glorious Tibetan relics inside. Echoing with the azure sky, it looks more majestic and solemn.

Then we will make our way to the Jokhang Temple, located at the city center. Noted for its delicacy and dense religious atmosphere, the temple is the grandest of Lhasa. At last, we will drop by the thriving bazaar of the Barkhor Street and a Nunnery.

Hi, I think spring or autumn is the best time to see pandas, and I suggest you go to see pandas in the morning when they are most active. As for Tibet tour, May to October is the best time. If you go to the Everest Base Camp, you should avoid the period from late October to early April due to the severe weather.

Asked by Tina from USA | Mar. 13, 2018 14:10Reply

For visitors in May 2018, what are the options to visit pandas?

There seems to be at least three sites, and we're not sure what is the difference between them and which would offer the best experience for visitors. Are the volunteer programs suspended as well? Thank you.

Answers (1)

Answered by Kina | Mar. 14, 2018 02:09

10Reply

Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the closest one from Chengdu and it hosts most pandas. At Ya’an Bifengxia Base can you find they are kept in the wild. I only went to the two places. And the volunteer program seems only available at Dujiangyan Panda Valley.

Asked by Kevin Huak from THAILAND | May. 30, 2017 05:22Reply

Luggage storage at Chengdu panda reserch center

Hello ,Is there a luggage storage in that place. I plan to visit it in early morning and afternoon catch the high speed train to Chongqing airport.I don't want to leave luggages at a hotel and go back to get them.Thank you.

Answers (2)

Answered by Keira from SINGAPORE | Jun. 01, 2017 21:24

10Reply

Yes, as I know, you can storage the luggage at the Tourist Service Center. Don't worry.

Answered by Kevin Huak from THAILAND | Jun. 01, 2017 21:36

00Reply

Thank you very much Keira.

Asked by Lee Gammage from CHINA | Apr. 09, 2017 23:13Reply

Hello, I am staying in the centre of Dujiangyan.

Do you know roughly how much a taxi will cost to Mount Qingcheng and Panda Research Centre from here please? Alternatively we may get bus 101 from the station, do you know how many stops this is on this bus and how long this mode of transport will take please?

Answers (1)

Answered by Adrian from UNITED KINGDOM | Apr. 13, 2017 22:01

00Reply

Hello, actually, you don't need to take a taxi or public bus from Dujiangyan to Qiangcheng Mountain. Just take the high-speed train. This way is the most convenient and economical. The ticket fare is CNY 5 per person. It only takes around 8 mins on the way.From Qingcheng Mountain to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, you are advised to hire a private car. It would cost around CNY 200 in usual time.